HomeCasa How to structure prompt instructions
Numbered steps, delimiters, sections and logical order: how to organize a long prompt so the AI does not skip anything.
A long, messy prompt is like a brief given in a hurry over the phone: something gets lost. Structure makes instructions easy to follow, for the AI and for whoever reuses the prompt.
Use sections
Split the prompt into blocks with clear headings:
## Role
## Context
## Task
## Steps
## Constraints
## Output formatYou can use Markdown headings, capitals or tags; what matters is consistency.
Number the steps
If the task has a sequence, number it. Models follow “1, 2, 3” better than a paragraph with “first… then… and also…”.
Delimit the data
Any text the AI must process (not obey) should be delimited:
Translate the text between the tags into French.
<text>
...
</text>This also reduces the risk that instructions hidden in a pasted document change the AI's behavior.
Positive instructions
“Write in short sentences” works better than “do not write long sentences”. When something is forbidden, say so explicitly, but pair it with the alternative.
Explicit output format
Describe exactly how you want the answer:
Reply with:
1. A 2-line summary.
2. A table with columns: Option | Pros | Cons | Cost.
3. Your recommendation in one paragraph.For technical integrations you can ask for JSON with specific keys and an example.
Check for contradictions
Before sending, reread: are there conflicting instructions? Is there anything the AI has to guess? One minute of review saves several iterations.